pro spotlight

motivational spotlight: Jean-Simon Roy

Offensive lineman, Jean-Simon Roy (also known as J-S Roy), first started playing football at the age of 12 on his highschool team at Séminaire Saint-François in Quebec.

During the summer of 2012, he was selected to represent Team Canada in the World Junior Championship in Austin, Texas. In that final game, they defeated Team USA, and were declared World Champions. He then played college football at Laval University in Canada, and won two National titles in only four years. He was also named on the first All-Canadian Team in 2016 and was drafted that same year in the second round of the CFL (Canadian Football League) Draft by the Edmonton Eskimos. In 2017, he tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season - however he has made a full recovery and is back in the game!

Not only is he a professional football player in the CFL, but he is also the founder of CampNextGen, an organization focused on developing young football players.

NEWS FEATURES:

Q&A with J-S Roy

1) Can you share your ACL story?

I tore my ACL in the 8th game of the season in Winnipeg. I knew right away that my ACL was torn, as I heard the sound of a large elastic band tearing up. A month later, I had surgery in Quebec city. I chose to use the hamstring tendons as the graft because the doc told me it was the best way to do it in his opinion, especially for a lineman. Rehab was a long process, in order to be able to return to playing football at a professional level. 12 months after surgery, I was back on the field even though, I felt I had been well before then.

2) What was the hardest part of the experience?

The hardest part of the whole process was definitely the first week after the ACL tear. I was frustrated that my first CFL season was already done. The rehab went super well, and I followed everything my physio asked me to do. I was in the physio clinic everyday for 1-2 hours getting it done.

3) How did you stay motivated during the recovery season?

I stayed motivated by being around people who knew how much I wanted to be back as a better football player. The physio, the docs, my girlfriend and family were really supportive and helped me stay mentally focused all the way until my comeback. Speaking with my friends who had gone through the process before also helped me a lot.

4) What advice would you give to other athletes recovering from ACL injuries?

My first advice would be to get your range of motion back as as soon as possible! Also, follow your specialist's instructions and walk on it with crutches the very next day after getting surgery IF your surgeon tells you that it is fine. My surgeon actually asked me to walk out of the hospital with crutches!

5) Has this injury changed you as a person, and what have you learned through this injury?

Discipline, discipline, discipline. I was already well-disciplined with my training and rehabbing injuries but it taught me to be be more patient and not to rush progress, as that’s the best way to rehab an injury such as an ACL tear. It paid off in the long run.

6) What is your biggest dream after making a comeback?

I want to win a Grey Cup in the CFL!

Thank you J-S Roy for sharing your experience and advice with the XCLevation community!